Price: £6.00 approx (Jan 2011)
Kit Ref: A02017
Review by: Geoff Coughlin
Our thanks to Airfix for supplying the review sample.Get this kit here now at www.airfix.com
Something to get you in the mood!
The new-tool Airfix kit
The Supermarine Spitfire PR Mk.XIX has always been quite elusive in kit form, in any scale. With this new kit, Airfix has made available a state of the art kit that many will just love and enjoy. If you fancy something completely at the other end of the scale there’s always the forthcoming Vintage 1:24 Spitfire PR Mk.XIV! I digress…
The Box
An excellent ‘proper’ box here, not one of those annoying and, frankly almost pointless end-opening ones. The box art is, as ever with new Airfix kits, superb and definitely designed to help us part with our hard-earned – and why not? The contents certainly live up to – and surpass – expectations, especially in 1:72 scale.
Click on Image to enlarge.
The Kit
Now this is where things get interesting. For a start, what strikes you immediately is the smooth lustre of the components and very precise engraving of the panel lines. These look much better than on the somewhat odd hybrid recently offered in 1:48th scale. No, this time we have plastic on sprues that looks and feels much more like a Tamiya kit, so if you’ve ever built one of those you’ll be pleased about that. Already I am planning whether to use a wash – it will certainly work well with these new-style panel lines.
The cockpit seems very well appointed, with a very neat seat and separate forward and rear bulkheads with accurate engraved detail. The lightening holes are there and will only need drilling out with a small pin vice drill. See your Techniques Bank for details of how to do that. The fuselage side walls have a superb level of detail moulded-in that will look great under some subtle weathering. A decal is included for the main instrument panel and this is ideal in the small scales like 1:72nd.
The new 5-bladed prop spinner looks accurate in shape and blades in outline.
Accuracy
The overall shape of the fuselage and wings is good, accurately representing the Spitfire PR Mk.XIX. I can see nothing that looks ‘wrong’ after carefully looking at the main components. So far, so good. The unique ‘gull-wing’ shape of the underside below the cockpit has been captured perfectly. This isn’t always the case with Spitfire kits.
Nice touches are definitely the detailed wheel hubs as well as a separate broad chord (pointed) rudder. The latter option will offer just enough variety in ‘look’ to make the final model interesting and varied. The wheel wells are also detailed and look scale-depth so that’s a plus. Raised or lowered gear are options.
Transparencies
The canopy is moulded in one piece. It is very clear and the small sprue also features the clear camera window typical of the type. It’s a shame that the canopy isn’t a little thinner, because then cutting it and trying to pose the canopy open could possibly have been an option.
Instructions
The instructions are clear and logical with the usual exploded diagrams on a fold-out sheet.
Decals
The decals are good quality and in register. Colour looks accurate and opacity also good. Options for an RAF or Swedish PR.Mk.XIX is included, so you can go for something familiar or rather different!
Conclusion
This is a good package by any standards, with good quality moulding and what appear to be decent decals. The levels of detail in the cockpit and wheel wells are highlights and the fact that we have a readily available late-Mk Spit is great and very welcome. Congratulations to the manufacturer on another winner!
Recommended.
Geoff C.
Ask a question or add feedback:
You must be logged in to post a comment.